- $250 GPU card competitive with GeForce 4060 and RX 7600 in numerous benchmarks
- However, both products will be replaced by new models launched at CES 2025
- Intel’s driver update is expected to further improve B580 performance
More than two years after the release of its first standalone GPU, Intel Launched Arc B580 “Battle Mage” Marks the second generation of dedicated graphics cards.
The B580 is mainly sold through on-board (AIB) partners such as Maxon, Sparkle and ASRock, and uses Intel’s updated Xe2 architecture.
It offers efficiency improvements and a second-generation Ray Tracing Unit (RTU) as well as an enhanced XMX engine (Intel’s counterpart) NVIDIAtensor core.
unfortunate timing
Puget Systems This $250 GPU card was recently tested and found to effectively compete with Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4060, AMDThe Radeon RX 7600 spans a range of benchmarks. With 12GB of VRAM, the B580 certainly stands out in the budget category, beating out the RTX 4060’s 8GB at a lower price.
That extra memory gives it an advantage in workflows that require higher VRAM capacity, such as GPU effects in Premiere Pro and Unreal Engine, but performance in creative applications brings mixed and surprising results. result.
In graphics-intensive tasks, such as DaVinci Resolve’s GPU effects, adobe After Effects and Unreal Engine, the B580 is impressive, often matching or exceeding more expensive GPUs. Puget Systems noted that the B580 matches the RTX 4060 at every resolution in Unreal Engine while benefiting from its superior VRAM capacity.
Unfortunately, the inconsistency of media acceleration has hindered its growth in other areas. For example, in Premiere Pro, Intel’s hardware acceleration for the HEVC codec lagged behind expectations. Puget Systems Slower results were observed compared to software-based processing. The issues appear to be driver-related, and Intel may address this issue in an upcoming update.
Shortly after launch in 2022, Puget Systems Tested Arc A750 (8GB and 16GB models) Then left disappointed. The B580 is a significant improvement over its predecessor, and Intel’s continued driver development will undoubtedly further expand the performance of the B580. However, the timing of Intel’s launch was unfortunate.
While the B580 is currently a strong contender in the entry-level market, Nvidia and AMD are expected to show off GeForce 4060 and RX 7600 replacements at CES 2025, and these new models may diminish the appeal and competitiveness of Intel’s new GPUs. promote.